Student Finance
Student Finance
The most common way for students to cover university costs is by taking out a student finance loan. These loans are available to all home students studying full-time or part-time for their first degree (they are not available for students studying at further education level).
Student finance options depend on what course you’re taking so take the time to explore what is available to you.
There are two types of student loan:
- A tuition fee loan, purely to cover the cost of the tuition fees
- A maintenance loan, which is intended for everyday living costs.
One misconception about student finance loans is that you end up leaving university in thousands of pounds worth of debt. However, this isn’t quite the case. Student loans are different from other types of loans, as students only start repaying them after they complete their studies and once they’re working and earning a certain level of salary. Please visit for more information on Repayment terms and conditions.
The amount you can borrow under the student maintenance loan scheme depends on your household's income – in other words, your circumstances and the amount earned by you, your spouse or your parents.
If your household has a low income, you may also be eligible for a .
It is important you apply for funding as early as possible to make sure you have finance in place for the start of the term.
If you are not eligible for a loan, then you will need to fund your course yourself. If you wish to pay your own course fees upfront rather than accessing a loan, further information on the arrangements for this can be found in our Fee, Liability and Instalment Dates pages.
Please note that details given in this section are for full-time undergraduate home students and details may vary for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Students should check with their local government for details of available support.
Useful websites for funding information